News

A £50m investment by Belfast Harbour to develop a new terminal for the assembly of offshore wind turbines is providing a major boost for the Northern Ireland construction and aggregate sectors. The project, the largest ever in the Harbour's 400-year history, will create 150 construction jobs and generate demand for one million tonnes of stone from local quarries.

A primary school teacher from Ballyclare has been named Belfast Harbour Green Teacher of the Year 2011 at an exciting Challenge Day at W5 attended by The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Niall Ã“ Donnghaile. Mr McAllister, from Fairview Primary School, Ballyclare, scooped the top prize in the Northern Ireland-wide search for the primary school teacher who showed most leadership and took most responsibility for the environment.

Belfast Harbour has announced plans for a £250m 'City Quays' development in the heart of Belfast's historical maritime district. City Quays represents the latest stage in the ongoing transformation of Belfast's waterfront and is the strategic lynchpin to interconnect other developments initiated by Laganside such as Lanyon Place, and those at Cathedral Quarter, Odyssey and Titanic Quarter.

Belfast Harbour is delighted to welcome audiences attending The Boat Factory to the Harbour Office during its run from 20th October to 29th October. The play written by Dan Gordon and directed by Philip Crawford forms part of The Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen's. Parking is available for those attending the performance at Donegall Quay and is signposted with Belfast Harbour Event signage.

The Northern Ireland Science Park (NISP) has confirmed plans to expand its facilities by almost a third, providing additional space for up to 500 knowledge workers. The new facility, the second of three buildings known as 'The Concourse', will be purchased upon completion by Belfast Harbour as an investment property. The £6 million investment includes a sharing of security between Belfast Harbour, the Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment and Barclays Bank which had previously provided a loan facility for Concourse I.

Rising tonnages have helped increase turnover at Belfast Harbour according to the Port's 2010 Annual Report published today. Trade through Northern Ireland's largest port has grown for the first time in three years, up 5.4% to 16.4m tonnes. This was reflected in an improved Turnover, up 5% to £34.7m. Profits Before Taxation stood at £17.4m.

Belfast Harbour today launched the 2011 Green Teacher of the Year Awards 2011 and is calling on all primary school pupils to help find Northern Ireland's 'greenest teacher'. Organised by Belfast Harbour and Action Renewables, the unique competition aims to reward primary school teachers for showing environmental leadership and taking responsibility for the environment.

Belfast Harbour and the Titanic Foundation have launched a competition for primary school pupils to create Titanic-themed models out of everyday household items. Up for grabs will be exclusive access to the new Titanic Belfast visitor attraction opening next year. Pictured at the competition launch in front of the new Titanic Belfast visitor attraction are Webster, the Port's environmental guardian with the CEO of Belfast Harbour Roy Adair, CEO of Titanic Foundation, Cliodhna Craig and Liam Kelly and Anna Pollock from Ballyholland Primary School in Newry. Ballyholland Primary School's Year 7 class are leading the way by making their own prototype models for the launch. Teachers are being asked to register now at: www.webstersays.com

The Permanent Secretary at the UK's Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC), Moira Wallace, has visited Belfast Harbour to learn more about its plans to develop a £40m terminal for DONG Energy, one of the world's leading offshore wind developers. Ms Wallace met with Executives from both the Harbour and Invest Northern Ireland to discuss the project which will help the UK reach its target of generating 30% of all electricity from renewable sources by 2020. As part of that process almost 11,000 wind turbines are expected to be constructed in UK waters over the next 20 years.

Belfast Harbour has published its new Corporate Plan for 2011-2013, detailing plans to invest £92m in capital projects related to the Port and Harbour Estate. The single largest investment is a £40m proposal to develop a Marine Energy Park to support Danish-based DONG Energy's offshore wind farm operations in the Irish Sea and boost Belfast's 'green economy'.